Striated Heron
Butorides striata
The Striated Heron (Butorides striata) is a common herons, egrets, and bittern found in 127 countries, weighing about 202 g. The striated heron also known as mangrove heron or little green heron, is a small heron, about 44 cm tall.










About the Striated Heron
The striated heron also known as mangrove heron or little green heron, is a small heron, about 44 cm tall. It is mostly sedentary and noted for some interesting behavioural traits. The breeding habitat is in South America and the Caribbean. The striated heron was formerly considered to be conspecific with the little heron that is found in the Old World tropics from west Africa to Japan and Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The striated heron is 35–48 cm (14–19 in) in length, weighs 130–250 g (4.6–8.8 oz) and has a wing-span of 52–60 cm (20–24 in). The sexes are alike. The plumage is variable below, from mid grey to pinkish-purple or orangey toned. Adults have a blue-grey back and wings, white underparts, a black cap, a dark line extends from the bill to under the eye and short yellow legs. Juveniles are browner above and heavily streaked below.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Micronesia, Bermuda, Spain, France.
When to see it
The Striated Heron can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Striated Heron?
- The striated heron is 35–48 cm (14–19 in) in length, weighs 130–250 g (4.6–8.8 oz) and has a wing-span of 52–60 cm (20–24 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Striated Heron?
- The Striated Heron is a medium sized bird weighing about 202 g.
- Where can you see a Striated Heron?
- The Striated Heron occurs in 127 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Australia, South Africa and India.
- What birds look similar to a Striated Heron?
- The Striated Heron is most easily confused with the Lava Heron and the Green Heron.
Learn the Striated Heron for real
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